I’m momentarily speechless. I gaze up at him and lick my lips. That mouth is so close to mine and I need to touch it. With mine. Bloody hell, Georgiana has depths of self-control I definitely haven’t been blessed with.
His voice softens. ‘I cannot help what I want. I cannot help that you look so beautiful today. And every day. But when you are in my bed, it won’t be like this. Your hair, so elegant now, will be spread loose across my pillow. You will be freed from the constraints of these fine clothes. There will be nothing between us. Nothing at all.’
Jesus Christ. If it all goes wrong for Josh in the movie industry, he could definitely write Regency romance. He’s seriously good at this stuff.
‘There is less between us than you think, Your Grace,’ I whisper. ‘I’m not wearing underwear.’
His reaction is priceless. His eyes dart down my body before he closes them and swallows hard. He takes another peek at me.
‘Seriously?’
‘Yes. I’m being authentic.’
‘The hell you are,’ he growls. He grabs my upper arm over my coat. ‘You know what that means, don’t you? In your trailer? When we’re done?’
I stare up into his molten eyes and nod my head slowly. Silently.
Dan hurries over to us. ‘You two ready to block this one out?’
‘Sure, buddy.’ Josh gives me a filthy once-over that’s a warning of what’s coming later, before turning and giving Dan his attention.
We could have spent the past few minutes going over our lines, but this has really got our blood pumping. This kind of banter will give Abigail every last drop of the tension she wants from this scene. Which is great, because I can’t wait to wrap it.
CHAPTER 33
Josh
Iam a lucky bastard, especially compared to poor Dominic, who’s days or weeks from having his wicked way with the woman of his dreams.
I, however, am minutes away.
We nailed our close-ups, the heated subtext we’d conjured up burning through every line we uttered to each other. Alyssa and Abigail were pumped, and it’s bought us some time while they set up for the wide shots.
Elle is leaning against the door of my trailer in full Georgiana regalia, watching me like an elk might watch a lion. I watch her right back as I shrug off my coat and throw it down. Unbutton my waistcoat. Pull my cravat loose and spool the silk along my neck, letting it slide to the ground. Finally, I roll the sleeves of my shirt up slowly as she gazes longingly at my forearms.
‘Hilary’s going to have your guts for garters.’ Hilary is my costumer today.
‘I don’t give a flying fuck about Hilary.’ I move toward her, finishing the job on my sleeves. ‘I’m gonna enjoy this. I’ve been desperate for this, baby. All. Fucking. Morning.’
I stand in front of her, the tips of our shoes almost touching, and turn my attention to her pointless little coat. It’s palest blue, to match her pretty gown, and as low-cut as the gown. Heaven forbid those ladies should choose warmth over the chance to showcase their wares to their suitors.
The coat is open the whole way down the front. The only bit that’s fastened is a patch across her chest. I attempt to focus on undoing the slippery, covered buttons as her breasts rise and fall right before my eyes. Fuck, she’s beautiful. That pale, smooth skin, begging for my lips. I get the offending coat off of her and bend to kiss the swell of her breast, sliding my hands around her waist to steady her. Her fingers sink into my shoulders.
I need to kiss her. Claim her. I’ve been thinking about nothing else since the other day. Every second I’m with her, I’m watching her mouth. Every second I’m not, I’m thinking about her mouth. I lift my head and drink in her utter beauty for a moment. The anticipation, the hunger, in her huge blue eyes. The delicate line of her jaw. The lustre of her skin that even layers of makeup can’t hide.
And then I seal my lips to hers. Jesus. The relief is so sweet.She’sso sweet. And I drag my thumb along that jawline as I thrust my tongue inside her mouth. Branding her. And, if I’m honest, beseeching her to remember why we should be together. Why she can’t live without this any more than I can.
But right in this moment, I shouldn’t worry, because she’s every bit as needy as me. She writhes in my arms and seals her hand to the back of my head and pulls me in as close as she can. I oblige, pressing my hips against her, crushing her against the door as the semi I’ve been nursing all day builds and builds with a desperate need for her.
‘Do you want me?’ I whisper roughly in her ear when I come up for breath.
She arches her neck against the brush of my lips and groans. ‘Yes. But—stay in character.’
If that’s how she wants to play it, fine. We’ve made it pretty obvious we both find Dominic and Georgiana’s dynamic super hot, but I have a suspicion there’s a strong element of self-preservation in there, too. I’m guessing she’s a lot more willing to drop her guard—and her panties, if she ever wears any these days—for her all-time favourite romantic hero than for me.
That’s okay.
I can roll with that.
